Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee poll not working - pl ignore

Elmo · 13-09-2020 12:34am

end of the road wrote: »

if they are "promoting" one side of something, it is because there is no other side to "promote" given one side is factual and the other not, and it is their job to promote the facts and not to be a propaganda machine.

the second one can be denied because it's not the case.
the first one, unfortunately that is just the media market, where in the odd case some broadcasters think their talent is worth paying a high salary to when in the opinion of others they are talentless. there isn't anything that can be done about that for now.

I rarely if ever hear a centrist on RTÉ. You can have left or a right wing opinion but neither are facts. You can suit the facts to suit your opinion, RTÉ/the media should be able to consider all side to an argument without fear that one side might not consider them woke enough and the other side considering them too woke. (By the way I find that here on boards also). Most are looking on thinking do I have to continue to listen to both extreme of an argument? That isn't balance.

RTÉ pay over 120 people over 100,000 euro per year. 35 over 150,000. It is unlikely that any other broadcast organisation would take any of these people, because the vast majority of broadcasters have less than 250 people working for them. RTÉ have inflated those wages.

For example tell me what show Tubs would present on Virgin Media/TV3? Ireland AM? Tubs? How about Newstalk is there an opening there? Today FM? The Last Word? Perhaps local radio could afford him, iRadio might take him? iS Sean O'Rourke reallying going to bring an audience to Newstalk that they don't already have?

suicide_circus · 13-09-2020 5:12am

ligerdub wrote: »

I don't like RTE. In fact I really don't like RTE.

That said I think the website is an improvement in format on the previous one. By that I mean it's an improvement on the layout and presentation.

If only they would cut out the needless and frequent "opinion" pieces with the usual lefty politics such as feminism, LGBT, climate change, BLM/race-issues etc. RTE will only ever promote one side of the narrative on these issues, and no prizes for guessing which sides. As a final cherry on top there's the usual shoe-horn and promotion of any story remotely anti-Trump. RTE is essentially an Irish CNN.

Don't believe me? I've decided to now check the website and pick out stories that fit into the above:

Johnson fails to win over Tory critics of Brexit bill (Brexit)
Brexit: Boris Johnson, state aid and a 'rushed' treaty (Analysis And Comment)
3 hidden plastics in your home - and how to replace them (Living)
Throwing the Book at Trump
The women who make your safety their business

It's just taking the lead from the BBC which perpetually has sop pieces about how a transwoman of colour invented oxygen and defeated Hitler.

Smiles35 · 13-09-2020 7:07am

Elmo wrote: »

RTÉ pay over 120 people over 100,000 euro per year. 35 over 150,000. It is unlikely that any other broadcast organisation would take any of these people, because the vast majority of broadcasters have less than 250 people working for them. RTÉ have inflated those wages.

It's more than 250 they have. I had an idea for a tv show so I went looking for someone to talk to there (Useing the website

). Page after page of managers of different sections of programing.

hurleronditch · 13-09-2020 7:36am

Smiles35 wrote: »

Newstalk needs to be subsidised. The state should buy it. It could be a great Dublin station. Right now all that station is doing is pandering to people who bet on football on their phone, while they wait for add revenue from bookies.

Why would you make it a Dublin only station? What would be the commercial incentive to take it away from 25 counties?

I think NT is going through a bit of an identity crisis. Ger Gilroy has been very entrepreneurial in making OTB a stand-alone entity and outsourcing the sports of all the other DOB stations, along with some others possibly, but NT has become so sports dominated, for most people who work 9-6 5 days a week, it’s almost impossible almost impossible to hear actual news or current affairs outside of breakfast.

The predominance of advertising is probably a necessity driven by the unreasonable level of support they compete with at RTÉ, but the gambling ads in particular feel tone deaf to me. OTB have been quite open talking about difficult issues previously which includes gambling issues, and the repeated ramming down your throats I’d ladbrokes or whoever it is is obnoxious. The other one which grated on me as a rugby fan is/was the non stop “everyone in, team of us” absolute claptrap every 30 seconds during rugby coverage. I’m not quite at the Ewan McKenna end of things, and as much as I’m a massive rugby fan, it’ll never really be a team of us to a huge amount of the country, no matter how much a mobile phone company ram it down our throats

Smiles35 · 13-09-2020 7:57am

hurleronditch wrote: »

Why would you make it a Dublin only station? What would be the commercial incentive to take it away from 25 counties?

I think NT is going through a bit of an identity crisis. Ger Gilroy has been very entrepreneurial in making OTB a stand-alone entity and outsourcing the sports of all the other DOB stations, along with some others possibly, but NT has become so sports dominated, for most people who work 9-6 5 days a week, it’s almost impossible almost impossible to hear actual news or current affairs outside of breakfast.

I deleted that post as I worked out fairly quickly that RTE and the state would not fund a station where anything could be said. To reply. It's just in my mind that a news station is 'supposed' to be based in an around a city.

Serious funding though. You need the presenters, people to work with the pesenters. Money to pay guests. Overseas you have current affairs stations funded by big compananies. I don't know if we have public company large enough that wants advertising in this way.

AllForIt · 13-09-2020 8:20am

elperello wrote: »

While you are there, what do you think about the new website?

I don't like it. It looks like a www.msn.com of old. It's too busy, the old one was way better, cleaner and simple. It seems like as step backwards.

The J Stands for Jay · 13-09-2020 8:43am

samjames wrote: »

I honesty never tune in to any of it at all as theres simply nothing good on it, its total rubbish, the presenters are boring, really bad and Ryan Tubridy tries to be funny and fails every time, Byrne not great, we got presenters thinking they worth a lot more but not worth 1/4 of what they are getting already

I watched the late late on Friday. I wouldn't have tubbs as a presenter if he worked for free. Answering questions for the guests, moving the interviews away from interesting areas and whoever decided to do a bleep test on TV should be sacked.

Elmo · 13-09-2020 9:26am

Smiles35 wrote: »

It's more than 250 they have. I had an idea for a tv show so I went looking for someone to talk to there (Useing the website ). Page after page of managers of different sections of programing.

I have no really problem with a number of managers looking after different Genres, however when you cut funding to independent productions you should also be cutting down on the number of commissioning editors, your talking about Heads of Genres with vastly reduced budgets with the same wage and with the same number of people on their team. I wouldn't be surprised if the Head of Children's and her two staff members were earning €300,000 in total, 10% of their budget, the same wages that they possible got when their budgets were a lot more substantial. In 2016 RTÉ decided to put Children's content commissions on hold for six months what exactly did those managers do during those six months?

Along with people praising them for quickly getting home school hub up and running, they should be doing this kind of thing anyway, or at least prepared to move content producers to the home school hub, but when you have none you have to scramble and in that scramble you get praised?

I'd love to know what the Head of Drama does, has he had meetings with any script writers and producers over the last six months, in perpetration for when productions can get back up and running, is he developing anything. His appointment seem to come from the fact that he was an executive producer on Agatha Raisin! Okay its because of his association with Acorn TV, who's list of shows are mediocre at best.

Smiles35 · 13-09-2020 9:51am

Elmo wrote: »

I'd love to know what the Head of Drama does, has he had meetings with any script writers and producers over the last six months, in perpetration for when productions can get back up and running, is he developing anything. His appointment seem to come from the fact that he was an executive producer on Agatha Raisin! Okay its because of his association with Acorn TV, who's list of shows are mediocre at best.

It's probably all Fair City for him

. Perhaps some scouting for writers. The others would have their hands out for good ideas.

Elmo · 13-09-2020 10:03am

Smiles35 wrote: »

It's probably all Fair City for him . Perhaps some scouting for writers. The others would have their hands out for good ideas.

Fair City has an executive producer, she is largely the head of Fair City he may have some oversight but she's been the main person on Fair City for years, I think only his predecessor start to be involved in Fair City when it became Group head of Drama.

Perhaps he is scouting for writers and developing new Drama projects for the next few years. But some how I think COVID will be blamed once production starts again.

RabbleRouser2k · 13-09-2020 10:49am

Elmo wrote: »

Fair City has an executive producer, she is largely the head of Fair City he may have some oversight but she's been the main person on Fair City for years, I think only his predecessor start to be involved in Fair City when it became Group head of Drama.

Perhaps he is scouting for writers and developing new Drama projects for the next few years. But some how I think COVID will be blamed once production starts again.

If the South Westerlies program is the best RTE can do with their scouting... they need to fire that talent scout.

One episode was all it took to realise that this is woeful.

Elmo · 13-09-2020 10:56am

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

If the South Westerlies program is the best RTE can do with their scouting... they need to fire that talent scout.

One episode was all it took to realise that this is woeful.

RTÉ are only interested in co-pros & BBC commissioned scripted drama.

It took them a year to get funding for Finding Joy 2 because the BAI pulled their funding for a second series... that came from Acorn and their head of Drama was ....

ligerdub · 13-09-2020 12:11pm

end of the road wrote: »

if they are "promoting" one side of something, it is because there is no other side to "promote" given one side is factual and the other not, and it is their job to promote the facts and not to be a propaganda machine.

Ha! That's hilarious.

RabbleRouser2k · 13-09-2020 12:17pm

Elmo wrote: »

RTÉ are only interested in co-pros & BBC commissioned scripted drama.

It took them a year to get funding for Finding Joy 2 because the BAI pulled their funding for a second series... that came from Acorn and their head of Drama was ....

Ah, had a google...

Was hoping that should would never appear. Huberman's currently expecting sprog number 3, so the show might be delayed.

I know they're only interested in co-productions, and try and make stuff for cheap. But why the hell did they fail to even try with South Westerlies? I have a feeling they're pushing for a Season 2 as well.
Fat chance. Show is being promoted as set in Cork, but then the interviews on the making of the show are up on the Wicklow Tourism youtube channel.

The J Stands for Jay · 13-09-2020 1:17pm

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Ah, had a google...

Was hoping that should would never appear. Huberman's currently expecting sprog number 3, so the show might be delayed.

I know they're only interested in co-productions, and try and make stuff for cheap. But why the hell did they fail to even try with South Westerlies? I have a feeling they're pushing for a Season 2 as well.
Fat chance. Show is being promoted as set in Cork, but then the interviews on the making of the show are up on the Wicklow Tourism youtube channel.

Filmed in Wicklow I believe. Why did they need to have it set in Cork?

RabbleRouser2k · 13-09-2020 1:20pm

McGaggs wrote: »

Filmed in Wicklow I believe. Why did they need to have it set in Cork?

Yep- Wicklow doubled for Cork, I think Dublin also, and Norway. (As that Irish actresses horrible Norwegian accent would prove. In a show of bad accents, and bad characters, she stood out).

20/20 · 13-09-2020 6:17pm

McGaggs wrote: »

Filmed in Wicklow I believe. Why did they need to have it set in Cork?

Maybe Wicklow would be the easterlies

elperello · 13-09-2020 11:00pm

EmptyTree wrote: »

It works. I'm not disputing that (although I can see some posters seem to be having issues). But I think we should have aspersions beyond "it works". My biggest gripe is that the news page looks like it's full of cheap clickbait. This is a time we need to have trust in our news sources, it doesn't need subliminal doubt cast on it.

elperello wrote: »

I was just trying it out to see how it would work on my laptop and tablet prompted by the complaints above.

I didn't really review the content although in general I do trust RTE as a news source.

I'll have another look at the content and get back to you.

Sorry for the delay replying.

I had another look concentrating on the content this time.

I didn't see anything I would describe as "cheap clickbait".

I saw stuff I wouldn't be interested in and would never click on but that's par for the course on any such website.

I suppose the show biz stuff is there because people like it.

As I said in the other post I trust RTE as a news source and I didn't see anything in the website that would cause me to doubt it.

Link to website - https://www.rte.ie/

fritzelly · 13-09-2020 11:34pm

elperello wrote: »

Sorry for the delay replying.

I had another look concentrating on the content this time.

I didn't see anything I would describe as "cheap clickbait".

If you look at a lot of the cheap tacky news sites - what look like news articles are actually spammy off site links - that is what the new site looks like

Being a bit of a web developer myself the whole front page looks like a link spamming site - the eye is not drawn to anything, nothing is easy to read (using bold font on everything)
There is over 50 picture and short text links to articles and nothing else on the page

I could put something better together in a few hours

The J Stands for Jay · 14-09-2020 11:25am

fritzelly wrote: »

If you look at a lot of the cheap tacky news sites - what look like news articles are actually spammy off site links - that is what the new site looks like

Being a bit of a web developer myself the whole front page looks like a link spamming site - the eye is not drawn to anything, nothing is easy to read (using bold font on everything)
There is over 50 picture and short text links to articles and nothing else on the page

I could put something better together in a few hours

I agree, most of the links, beyond the first few rows, look like adds. I wouldn't even read the headline, nevermind click the link.

Elmo · 14-09-2020 12:29pm

McGaggs wrote: »

I agree, most of the links, beyond the first few rows, look like adds. I wouldn't even read the headline, nevermind click the link.

In fairness to RTÉ unlike some other news site they are not taking material from Smartfeed and the like.

PieOhMy · 15-09-2020 2:59pm

https://extra.ie/2020/09/15/entertainment/movies-tv/rte-staff-jobs-row-prime-time-host

"RTE is on a collision course with unions over plans to recruit outside talent for the new Prime Time host job.

A well-known national journalist has completed a screen test and is favoured to take the job vacated by David McCullagh who has moved to the Six One News.
One RTE source said: ‘It’s crazy, with the levels of talent we have, to be bringing someone in from the outside at a time when we’re told we’re in serious financial trouble."

Trouble ahead it would seem. The article also alludes to issues with the recruitment process. Something that has been mentioned in the radio forum particularly.

"Separately, senior management held a crunch meeting with RTE producers yesterday after 50 producers signed a letter protesting about the lack of transparency in the recruitment process"

Will be interesting to see what happens with this.

AndyBoBandy · 15-09-2020 3:20pm

PieOhMy wrote: »

One RTE source said: ‘It’s crazy, with the levels of talent we have

23d95465a10ed3e44460c2e97684dcd088368a64.jpg?mw=600

PieOhMy wrote: »

Will be interesting to see what happens with this.

Absolutely nothing will happen, apart from all the disgruntled folks getting a top up of some sort, to make this 'issue' simply go away....

PieOhMy wrote: »

One RTE source said: ‘It’s crazy, with the levels of talent we have

The J Stands for Jay · 15-09-2020 3:23pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Absolutely nothing will happen, apart from all the disgruntled folks getting a top up of some sort, to make this 'issue' simply go away....

External talent will likely be cheaper, of they're paid market rates rather than rte rates.

sligojoek · 15-09-2020 3:26pm

McGaggs wrote: »

External talent will likely be cheaper, of they're paid market rates rather than rte rates.

Like Duffy, Darcy, Tubbs etc?

Not cheap at all.

The J Stands for Jay · 15-09-2020 3:32pm

sligojoek wrote: »

Like Duffy, Darcy, Tubbs etc?

Not cheap at all.

All those lads were rte hires (Darcy was coming back, he knew the pay scales).

mgn · 15-09-2020 3:37pm

sligojoek wrote: »

Like Duffy, Darcy, Tubbs etc?

Not cheap at all.

The way it works in RTE is the more useless you are have the more you get paid.

If the had the likes of Andrew Marr he would struggle to get 50k a year.

AndyBoBandy · 15-09-2020 3:42pm

McGaggs wrote: »

All those lads were rte hires (Darcy was coming back, he knew the pay scales).

Yeah but they are all still contractors, so, basically external agency guys (the agency just happens to be their own limited company).

mikhail · 15-09-2020 4:50pm

Whatever the union says, it's ridiculous to suggest that a heavily state-subsidised body even consider not advertising a high-profile post to external candidates. Either the union is just sabre-rattling to get a concession elsewhere or they're acting on the whims of deluded, institutionalised members badly in need of a reality check.

NIMAN · 15-09-2020 4:56pm

I love the phrase "lack of transparency" in the recruitment process.

Show us the transparency in how Lottie Ryan, Zamperelli, etc are recruited.

Kivaro · 15-09-2020 4:57pm

mikhail wrote: »

Whatever the union says, it's ridiculous to suggest that a heavily state-subsidised body even consider not advertising a high-profile post to external candidates. Either the union is just sabre-rattling to get a concession elsewhere or they're acting on the whims of deluded, institutionalised members badly in need of a reality check.

Or, Or, Or .................
An RTE staff family member was favoured (promised) to get that job.
It's probably written in the RTE Union book somewhere as a rule.

Just so funny (from an RTE source) .......... "It’s crazy, with the levels of talent we have ...."
I laughed heartedly at that one.

ligerdub · 15-09-2020 7:13pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Absolutely nothing will happen, apart from all the disgruntled folks getting a top up of some sort, to make this 'issue' simply go away....

Brilliant!

AndyBoBandy · 15-09-2020 8:14pm

New feature on RTÉ website? 10 top TV picks for Tuesday....

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0915/1165171-whats-on-10-top-telly-tips-for-tuesday-september-15/

Are you really surprised that not 1 of the 10 things is on RTÉ?? (Their even recommending something on Virgin Media......)

Elmo · 15-09-2020 8:20pm

Not sure why they need a new presenter for the show. The only thing I can think of is that RTÉ management are the type of people who like to show off.

I'd wonder who the new host is, they'd have to be in newspapers, I don't know of anyone from VM or Communicorp getting ready to jump ship.

But sure here's a hefty fee when we can continue as we are with Prime Time.

NIMAN · 15-09-2020 8:46pm

ligerdub wrote: »

Brilliant!

Agree.
AndyBoBandy has won post of the day for me. Maybe even the week.

Elmo · 17-09-2020 10:24am

No opposition speakers following UVDL's SotU address. Though it's largely a bureaucratic speech.

But the way they've framed the Syrian students time in Ireland. No mention of what life was like in her Homeland, but questions about direct provision, and her answers only mention that it was the hardest time & she was with her mother in one room. No mention of before & after her first year in Ireland.

Don't get me wrong DP should be dropped, but the framing of Ireland as bad with a success story seems strange.

RabbleRouser2k · 17-09-2020 11:28am

Elmo wrote: »

No opposition speakers following UVDL's SotU address. Though it's largely a bureaucratic speech.

But the way they've framed the Syrian students time in Ireland. No mention of what life was like in her Homeland, but questions about direct provision, and her answers only mention that it was the hardest time & she was with her mother in one room. No mention of before & after her first year in Ireland.

Don't get me wrong DP should be dropped, but the framing of Ireland as bad with a success story seems strange.

It's RTE.

Remember, they happily paid to show a two (or was it three) part series on Dr Eva, with the underlying element being 'I can't wait to get out of Ireland' from Eva.

Yet she was paid, by RTE, to make this show. And have it shown on Irish TV.

She hates the place so much, but not sad to take the money.

Funsterdelux · 18-09-2020 9:22pm

As anyone else noticed the increase in gambling ads on rte. Seems to be one in each ad break after 9pm. Its sickening.

PieOhMy · 19-09-2020 12:14am

Funsterdelux wrote: »

As anyone else noticed the increase in gambling ads on rte. Seems to be one in each ad break after 9pm. Its sickening.

Noticed that too, could.be coz the premiership is back on?

RabbleRouser2k · 19-09-2020 5:58am

I think the prevalence of gambling is because people have too much free time on their hands.

The sinister element of that is people don't have much money incoming atm, so will quickly get themselves into debt.

Funsterdelux · 20-09-2020 12:08pm

PieOhMy wrote: »

Noticed that too, could.be coz the premiership is back on?

Seems to be geared to the "footy" alright.

Wonder will they have the ads on when Tubrity has the likes of Oisin McConville on the late late.

Elmo · 20-09-2020 12:25pm

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/atticus-john-delaney-row-came-to-a-head-at-rte-tv9q297pk

Crazy carry on by an RTÉ executive if this story is true, Delaney's pat on the head sounds like something he might do, but to approach him about a minor exclusive given to Newstalk in an era of 24 hour news is completely petty, particularly when at the time RTÉ are losing live sports rights left right and centre.

Varik · 20-09-2020 12:45pm

Elmo wrote: »

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/atticus-john-delaney-row-came-to-a-head-at-rte-tv9q297pk

Crazy carry on by an RTÉ executive if this story is true, Delaney's pat on the head sounds like something he might do, but to approach him about a minor exclusive given to Newstalk in an era of 24 hour news is completely petty, particularly when at the time RTÉ are losing live sports rights left right and centre.

https://archive.is/4p94H

Link to same

Gen.Zhukov · 21-09-2020 11:00pm

They are really taking the piss with the RTE 'we tell truth' stuff, 'trust RTE for your news' agenda. There's a bang of a PR company being employed there to promote this sh!t.

You want to tell us the truth RTE?

*Tell us the salaries/fees of everyone in RTE.
*Tell us how Noel Kelly management has managed to get such a hold of your staff/contractors.
*Send the RTE investigates crew into Rathkeale and find out what is really going on there.

Just looking for a bit of truth there RTE.

Truth matters.

Double O Seven · 21-09-2020 11:58pm

1 year on from RTE announcing "major cutbacks", not one cutback implemented

fritzelly · 22-09-2020 12:09am

Double O Seven wrote: »

1 year on from RTE announcing "major cutbacks", not one cutback implemented

Well don't be lying now - there was one cutback - the quality

Atlantic Dawn · 22-09-2020 12:11am

Double O Seven wrote: »

1 year on from RTE announcing "major cutbacks", not one cutback implemented

Manning/womanning levels have actually increased on Prime Time, RTE News and Fair City.

Elmo · 22-09-2020 1:08am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Manning/womanning levels have actually increased on Prime Time, RTE News and Fair City.

Eh! Why?

RabbleRouser2k · 22-09-2020 2:13am

Elmo wrote: »

Eh! Why?

It's been rather odd to say the least-we know, with Fair City, the older members of the cast, as well as those with conditions like Asthma or other lung disorders, are not on set.

So while they're not getting paid their regular fee, RTe should be saving money, somewhat.

Instead, I've seen more new faces on RTE than on other channels. Even Virgin Media haven't taken on as many faces as RTE.

They've even 'revived' some of the children's television, and hired new crews on that too. (Martin's Shed, it's called-I think. I've only seen the ads).

The unfortunate thing is, they probably 'have' made cutbacks, behind the scenes. But the wages of the crew behind the scenes are miniscule compared to folks in front of the camera. So technically, there's no cutbacks.

22-09-2020 7:22am

Apart from fixing the RTE Player (which seems to me to be worse than ever), could one of the tech heads in RTE please solve the endless drop outs from contributors who are on the phone. I’m assuming that only Joe has the “bad line” switch installed, maybe a mischievous mouse is in that studio, playing with it? Well, it’s a suggestion.....

Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee *poll not working - pl ignore*

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Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee poll not working - pl ignore